Fans of Coldplay can download their new single for free via the British band's website www.coldplay.com.

"Violet Hill" from their new album "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends" will be available for a week from 1115 GMT on Tuesday. The album will be launched on 12 June.

Other freebies include a seven-inch vinyl version of "Violet Hill" which will be given away on the cover of the music weekly NME on May 7 as well as free gigs in London and New York. The group will perform at London's Brixton Academy on June 16 and New York's Madison Square Garden on June 23.

Coldplay joins the growing list of bands that are giving their music away.

Last year, Radiohead fans paid whatever they wanted for the group's album "In Rainbows" - three in five people downloaded it for free - while Prince gave away his album "Planet Earth" for free with copies of a weekly newspaper. - CNA/il